The European Tour will break new ground when it visits Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates early next year.
The inaugural $2 million Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital will be played at Al Hamra Golf Club on 3-6 February immediately after back-to-back Rolex Series events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It will be followed by the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and an additional tournament in the Middle East to be announced in the coming weeks.
Ras Al Khaimah previously hosted a Challenge Tour event annually between 2016 and 2018. It was the initial venue for the Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge in 2016 and 2017 before staging the 2018 Ras Al Khaimah Challenge Tour Grand Final, which Spain’s Adri Arnaus won.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “For decades the Middle East has been a hugely important region for the European Tour and today’s announcement further illustrates that.
“Our traditional spell in the Middle East at the start of each calendar year is always very popular and these five consecutive weeks in early 2022 will provide fantastic playing opportunities for our entire membership.â€
The R&A and the USGA have announced a new model local rule for 1 January 2022 to allow tournament organisers to ban drivers measuring more than 46 inches in professional and elite amateur competitions.
The new local rule was introduced following a wide-ranging consultative process involving equipment manufacturers, major tours, top players and other interested parties.
The decision has already resulted in strong criticism from Phil Mickelson, who described it as “pathetic†and accused the governing bodies of being “stupid†and “trying to make (the game) less fun,†but will affect a minuscule number of elite players who use drivers measuring longer than 46 inches.
There is likely to be more controversy when the R&A and USGA announce more radical changes to its equipment standard rules aimed at limiting the distance Bryson DeChambeau and other top players currently hit the golf ball. Those changes are expected early next year.
The authorities have confirmed research on the impact of club lengths on hitting distance has been ongoing since 2014.
A proposed change put forward in 2016 was put on hold in 2017 when the R&A’s and USGA’s much wider Distance Insights project got underway.
“We believe this is the right thing for the game at this time and will provide tournament organisers with the flexibility to choose for themselves within the framework of the rules,†R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said. “We are working hard to maintain an open, collaborative and considered dialogue with key stakeholders as we continue to evolve the equipment standards rules to ensure they reflect the modern game.â€
New USGA chief executive officer Mike Whan said: “We’ve worked closely with our industry partners to ensure the future of golf remains strong. Admittedly, this is not the ‘answer’ to the overall distance debate/issue but rather a simple option for competitive events. It is important to note it is not a ‘Rule of Golf’ and, as such, it is not mandated for the average, recreational golfer.â€
New research indicates nine million Australians are interested in golf in some form or another. However, the news comes as the 2021 Men’s Australian Open and 2022 Women’s Australian Open have been cancelled because of continuing COVID-19 problems.
Research from the Australian Golf Industry Council – a collaboration of the country’s main industry bodies – shows 5.8 million of the nine million (54 percent male and 46 percent female) have not yet played golf.
Only 5 percent of that nine million are currently golf club members.
“Those numbers turn everything we have been doing on its head,†Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland said. “If only 5 percent of ‘golf people’ are members, the potential for growth of the game is huge, and certainly more substantial than we’ve ever realised, if we get it right.
“Golf’s resurgence over the last couple of years, both in Australia and globally, is evidence of a new opportunity for golf that will see the game continue to grow and evolve for years to come.â€
The research also reveals 1.6 million players of “alternative†forms of golf, including 295,000 categorised as “ball-hitters.†An estimated 1.1 million children are interested in playing alternative forms of golf, second only to swimming among organised sports.
Engaging women and girls remains the biggest challenge, with signs female participation is increasing.
“We need to ensure golf, in its many formats, is in the consideration set particularly for women and juniors,†said Gavin Kirkman, AIG chair and PGA chief executive. “Availability of different entry points so people can find their way into the game is key.
“Whether it’s at a golf club or mini-golf facility, a driving range, a simulator experience, it shouldn’t matter, all golf is golf. We know how ‘sticky’ it is once someone has caught the golf bug, but we need to clear the path so they can find that start.
“Many people want a more relaxed and less regulated entry point to the sport, a golfing experience less focused on competition, no harsh clothing rules. People want to experience the game in a way that makes them feel welcome and included.â€
There will be a wait for competitors hoping to win Australia’s national championships. The men’s event had been scheduled for 25-28 November at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney. It now has been postponed until early 2022. The women’s tournament was to be staged at Kooyonga Golf Club in Adelaide in February next year. It now will be staged in 2023.
“The decision has not been made lightly but we believe it to be the right outcome under the current circumstances,†Sutherland said. “The international element means shifting quarantine and travel restrictions wreak havoc on planning and, with our marquee players living abroad, the challenge is even greater. “The pressure and risk on host venues and organisers is also high – these are small businesses who have already faced huge disruption due to the pandemic.â€
England Golf has announced a strong mixed team to compete in the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship at Whispering Pines, Texas, on 4-6 November.
All four members are currently playing American college golf and have considerable experience representing England and Great Britain & Ireland in international competition.
Annabel Fuller and Caley McGinty played for GB&I at this year’s Curtis Cup, and were part of the winning English teams at the European Ladies Team Championship and Women’s Home Internationals. Fuller attends the University of Florida while McGinty recently transferred to Oklahoma State. She won her fourth individual collegiate title of the year at the recent Schooner Fall Classic.
Reigning English Amateur champion Conor Gough and Joe Pagdin, a member of Team Great Britain at the 2018 Youth Olympics, join Fuller and McGinty. Gough is at the University of North Carolina Charlotte while Pagdin plays for the University of Florida. Both have represented GB&I in the Walker Cup.
“The English selectors have picked a very strong team to push for honours in the highly competitive Spirit International tournament at Whispering Pines,†said Stephen Burnett, men’s performance manager at England Golf. “Competing at the highest levels on foreign soil is paramount in our quest to give English golfers the broad range of experiences they need to grow and develop.â€
England has won the event twice – in 2005 with Oliver Fisher, Jamie Moul, Sophie Walker and Felicity Johnson. Two years later Danny Willett, Gary Boyd, Liz Bennett and Naomi Edwards claimed the trophy.
Sunshine Tour commissioner Thomas Abt has welcomed the news that South Africa has been removed from the red list for travellers entering the United Kingdom.
“This is a major step forward for the large number of Sunshine Tour professionals that we have playing on the European Tour, and who have found it increasingly difficult to travel during this time,†Abt said. “A number of our members have been unable to take up the full opportunities they’ve earned to play in tournaments in the United Kingdom or on the European Tour because of these travel restrictions.
“We are grateful for the work of the South African government in campaigning for South Africa to be removed from the red list as it also plays a significant role in the co-sanctioned tournaments we host with the European Tour on our schedule.
“This is indeed a big step towards returning to normality in professional golf.â€
A new Legends Tour event will be staged at JCB Golf and Country Club next year. The inaugural €600,000 JCB Championship is set for 29-31 July with former Open champion Darren Clarke as host.
JCB Golf and Country Club, near Uttoxeter, England, opened to great acclaim in 2018. It has twice hosted the Rose Ladies Tour.
“When JCB set out to create a world class golf and country club, it was always our ambition to attract an international tour event,†JCB chairman Anthony Bamford said.
“Our inclusion in the Legends Tour’s international schedule is the next step in fully realising our aspirations for the course,†club chief executive officer Graeme MacDonald added.
The full 2022 Legends Tour schedule will be announced later this year.
Colin Callander and Alistair Tait
